Belarus frees 25 political prisoners in return for US sanctions relief

What the report says

Belarus released 25 political prisoners on Wednesday after the United States lifted sanctions on two Belarusian companies, according to Al Jazeera’s reporting and a statement from US envoy John Coale. The prisoners were taken to Vilnius, Lithuania, after their release. The move followed negotiations that Coale said had been underway for more than a year with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994 and has long faced Western criticism for repression and support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Those freed included human rights activists, political campaigners, journalists and lawyers. Among them was journalist Andrei Alyaksandrau, who had been serving a lengthy prison sentence, along with three other journalists who were then deported to Lithuania. Belarusian rights group Viasna said many of the people released had been serving multi-year terms. Reporters Without Borders welcomed the releases but criticized the expulsion of journalists.

Coale said he expected to return to Minsk within about a month and hoped to secure the release of more detainees. He also said the Trump administration aimed to improve US-Belarus relations. The release came a day after Coale said Belarus would receive access to some frozen assets and after the US moved to lift sanctions on Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom. EU officials welcomed the step but said more than 800 people remain arbitrarily detained in Belarus, underscoring the broader human rights issue behind the deal.